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SFPUC approves Cesar Chavez auxiliary sewer project, sets aside $1 million for LID pilot
Summary
The SFPUC adopted a mitigated negative declaration for the Cesar Chavez Sewer Improvement Project and approved a mitigation-monitoring package after staff clarified attachment errors; the project includes a $1,000,000 allocation for pervious paving and bio-retention LID pilot features coordinated with the Better Streets program.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 23 voted to adopt a mitigated negative declaration (MND) and mitigation-monitoring and reporting program for the Cesar Chavez Street Auxiliary Sewer / Sewer Improvement Project, clearing environmental hurdles so the project can proceed to design and later construction contracting.
Irene Naturi and project staff described the project scope: build a large-diameter auxiliary sewer (72–84 inches) from Hampshire near Highway 101 to San Jose Avenue, with new sewer alignments down Valencia Street and tie-ins that will provide area-wide relief for historical flooding at intersections including Harrison, Folsom, Mission, Valencia and Guerrero. Staff said the project team has dedicated $1,000,000 for pervious paving and bio-retention (low-impact-development) features as a pilot tied to the city’s Better Streets program; the PUC will fund construction while DPW will lead certain environmental clearances and contracting for the LID elements.
Several commissioners asked technical questions about the design storm basis and how the LID components will be coordinated with DPW’s Better Streets environmental review. Project manager Bessie Tan explained the sewer elements are being designed to a five-year design storm (a rainfall-intensity curve is used for design durations) and that LID components are coordinated conceptually with DPW; the LID design and environmental review are being advanced by DPW as part of the Better Streets program and will be returned to the Commission as design and construction details are finalized.
Public commenter David Pilpel raised procedural and typographical issues in the draft final documents — for example, an incorrect planning-department file number referenced in the findings document and dates that needed correction — and requested that the mitigation-monitoring and reporting program (MMRP) identify the specific PUC unit responsible for implementation steps rather than listing SFPUC generically. Joanna Rose of the City Attorney’s Office and staff acknowledged the errors and proposed specific amendments to the resolution (correct dates, incorporate findings and MMRP as exhibits A and B and correct file numbers). Staff also said they would work with Planning to ensure interested stakeholders (including wastewater CAC members) receive notice of future environmental documents.
Following the errata and proposed clarifications, the Commission adopted the resolution as amended and approved moving the project forward to the design and contracting stage. Commissioners and staff emphasized that construction contracting will return to the Commission for award and that environmental clearance for the LID elements is being handled through the Better Streets environmental process.
